WHO chief applauds ‘massive success’ of Gaza’s polio vaccine drive

GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization chief hails the success of the first phase of a giant polio vaccination campaign in war-ravaged Gaza after more than 560,000 children received a first dose.

“This is a massive success amidst a tragic daily reality of life across the Gaza Strip,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says on X.

After the first confirmed polio case in 25 years, a massive vaccination effort began on September 1 targeting at least 90 percent of children under 10, aided by localized “humanitarian pauses” in fighting.

The first phase of the campaign, which first brought vaccines to children in central Gaza, then the south, and finally to the hardest-to-reach north of the territory, wrapped up Thursday.

A fresh campaign to provide a needed second dose is due to begin in about four weeks in Gaza, besieged for over 11 months.

Over 560,000 children aged below ten years of age were vaccinated against #polio during the first round of an emergency vaccination campaign in #Gaza, which was completed yesterday.

We admire all the health teams, who conducted this complex operation.

We are deeply grateful to… pic.twitter.com/QyYjSJg2Gp

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 13, 2024